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McLaren W1 First Drive: Ferocious Hypercar Transcends the Track

You know things are getting serious when McLaren rolls-out the ‘1’ suffix. The origin story is, of course, the very first road car McLaren ever built, the F1. Designed by visionary Formula 1 aerodynamicist and engineer Gordon Murray, it arrived in 1992 and rendered all other supercars obsolete. The tiny, lightweight F1 embraced carbon-fibre material technology, adopted a radical centre seat driving position with two passengers set back and either side and was powered by a 6.1-litre V12 engine from BMW that might as well have been passed down directly from the Gods. Game-changer? That doesn’t even come close to describing its impact, even if at the time sales didn’t come easy… The P1 was very different. Rather than a unique side project from the Formula 1 team, it was instead a statement piece for McLaren Automotive, a new road car division still in its infancy. It arrived in 2013 and was a wild-eyed showstopper. It traded the long-legged gait and supple suspension of the F1 for a weaponized hybrid system capable of delivering 903bhp and huge blue flames from its drainpipe exhaust. In Race mode, it lowered by 2-inches and its massive concave rear wing extended into the sky. The P1 was all about aerodynamic downforce, crazed acceleration and a snorting, angry soundtrack that mixed venomous twin-turbocharged V8 with the manic whirr of electric motors. Not so much a car as a force of nature. And now there’s this: The W1. It’s a true successor to the P1 with a similar brief and, on the face of it, it evolves rather than radically reinvents McLaren’s vision for the ultimate hypercar. This is not a criticism. How could it be when the result is this dramatic and has such staggering, other-worldly potential? The W1 has 1258bhp delivered to the rear wheels. It’s capable of 0-124 mph in 5.8-seconds, the quarter mile in 9.6-seconds at 167 mph and produces 2205lbs of downforce at 174 mph. The active aerodynamics – particularly a rear wing that extends way out beyond the rear of the car – are pure performance art and deliver massive aerodynamic efficiency. The result, aside from looking extremely cool, is that the W1 is McLaren’s fastest road car around a racetrack. Ever. Their benchmark circuit is the breath-taking Handling Track at the Nardo proving ground in southern Italy, where the W1 beats their previous benchmark, the flyweight McLaren Senna, by three seconds per lap. Or “a lifetime” as they call it in racing. Maybe two lifetimes! Core to the W1’s performance is the new ‘Aerocell’ carbon fibre tub. With integrated seats and a raised footwell to allow for inboard pushrod-operated front suspension – which in turn gives air a clean path to the huge underbody diffuser – it’s light, stiff, space efficient and has been instrumental in McLaren realising a full ground-effect concept. Just like last year’s F1 cars, which were the fastest ever made. There is also an active front wing and the aforementioned complex rear wing dubbed ‘Active Long Tail’. All of which is very admirable. But the ‘anhedral’ or gullwing doors and the fantastically shirnked-wrapped feel to the minimalist, highly-focussed interior are a pretty good side effect. The W1 feels special. Those fixed seats are perhaps a shade more upright than expected, and the driving position is less obviously racecar than, for example, the Aston Martin Valhalla or Ferrari F80. However, once you’ve adjusted the pedals (they move on a slider) and the delicate, slim-rimmed and alcantara-trimmed steering wheel, there’s an overwhelming sense of purpose. The cabin is so tightly tailored and imparts a sense of lightness and agility before you so much as start the all-new 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine, which makes 916bhp all on its own and revs to 9200rpm. Reach up to a roof-mounted control panel to find the starter button. Maybe this fighter plane trope is a little corny, but somehow you feel thrilled rather than manipulated. The W1 has a sense of humour as well as all that motorsport-derived sophistication. There’s a short delay, but when the engine does fire it’s instant – as the high-powered hybrid system negates the need for an old-school starter motor. A sharp flare of revs tells you that this engine is hyper-responsive and angry. On some deep level your brain and body have been sent all the signals required to prepare for something new and intense. Ahead of us, an empty Mugello racetrack, so press and hold the blue button next to the red starter to select Race mode. The centre display graphic shows the W1’s transformation in real time as it lowers by 37mm at the front and 17mm at the rear whilst simultaneously undocking all that active aero goodness. Race mode is not road legal and is geo-locked. You can show your friends and neighbours the aero dance, but it won’t allow you to select a gear to actually drive unless you’re at a circuit. Incidentally, the rocker switches either side of the display binnacle allow further options now: Toggle up the Handling control on the left for Race+ (for F1-spec super smooth tracks) or stick to Race for gnarlier ones. On the right toggle select ‘GP’ for sustained performance over a stint or ‘Sprint’ to unleash all 1258bhp for a time attack. There’s also a DRS and Boost function on the steering wheel. But I guarantee you won’t have the mental capacity to use them… Exit the pitlane, pin the throttle and W1 takes maybe a millisecond or two to gather its might (the gearing stretches to around 60mph in first, nearly 100mph in second, primarily to aid traction), but then lunges at the first turn with incredible ferocity. It instantly feels light, almost like inertia is no longer a thing. McLaren really does prize lightweight engineering, and at 3084lbs (dry) the W1 has a 278lbs advantage over the Ferrari F80. Plus, Ferrari uses figures for cars fitted with every single carbon fibre option. In reality, the gap is probably wider still. The impression of agility and stunning control continues as the track is unravelled at startling pace. The electric motor mounted to the side of the new 8-speed dual-clutch transmission is good for 342bhp and 324lb ft and it boosts any low rev lethargy the new flat-plane crank V8 might have (spoiler alert: It doesn’t appear to have any), so the W1 just feels massively, almost impossibly powerful at any revs. Even so, there’s real reward for wringing it out to 9200rpm and the power curve feels superheated but organic, too. In Race mode the steering – still hydraulically powered – has less assistance and it is noticeably heavier than other McLarens. However, that resistance is welcome as it gives you something to push against and imparts so much information about the front grip level. New Pirelli Trofeo RS tyres with a bigger front footprint than P1 or Senna really help. The front-end feels incredibly secure and the rear-axle follows with perfectly-aligned precision. The whole car feels super-stiff, completely locked into the surface and inspires confidence, but there’s an inherent agility and adjustability that means you’re quickly confident to push at its limits and really impose yourself on the chassis. It’s such a complex car but the driving experience is intuitive, and the driver feels a key contributor rather than just amazed (or terrified) observer, holding on for dear life. Every dynamic ingredient really is shockingly effective and yet has a subtlety and lightness of touch. From that delicious steering to the incredible brakes, the W1 just feels so mission-focussed, so hooked-up. Only the new 8-speed gearbox is a slightly disappointment. It’s fast and punchy, but after the scintillating energy of the Ferrari F80 ’box it feels competent rather than inspired. Other quibbles – it’s okay to quibble when the starting price is $2.1-million before tax and destination charge. Well, that new twin-turbocharged V8 sounds tightly wound and aggressive but if you have a P1 tucked in the garage you’ll miss the snorting, Darth Vader-style soundscape and all the drama that goes with it. Ferrari does this better, too. The F80 sounds deathly dull from the outside but is a riot of turbochargers, electric motors and all sorts of mechanical fury within the cockpit. Even so, the W1 is wildly entertaining on track, and the rear-drive configuration makes it more of a challenge and more satisfying than the F80 when chasing lap times or just sliding around for fun. In the Ferrari, you must second-guess what the front e-axle might do, whereas in the W1 it’s all on you. There are plenty of tools to help, including the ingenious Variable Drift Control, but somehow the W1 is more heroic. Or at least fools you into feeling more heroic – which is surely the point! On the road? Nimble, loaded with feel and sublime response. The ride is noticeably tougher than, say, a 750S but the control is ramped-up too, and with a bit more speed the whole car finds a delicious rhythm. Sport mode for the drivetrain brings some nice turbo whooshes and chirps, but the noise remains high-quality rather than extreme excitement. It is perhaps the one area the W1 feels just a little too tame. Of course, there’s nothing tame about the raw performance… which is genuinely shocking and literally hurts your neck muscles after a few hours. How McLaren has given the W1 such immense traction through just two driven wheels is beyond me. So, is it worthy of that ‘1’? I think so. Perhaps we won’t be talking about $25-million auction results for the W1 in 30 years from now, as we are for the F1. Perhaps it doesn’t quite have the amazing presence and jaw-dropping star quality of the simply gorgeous P1. But it is such an intense experience and the way it marries stunning track performance with delicate poise and entertainment on normal roads is something akin to magic. Maybe not ‘the one’ but definitely a searing, outrageous addition to McLaren’s fiercest family line. Just 399 W1’s will be built and they’re all sold. I’m not surprised at all. View All McLarens For Sale Images: McLaren Automotive

By Edward Jones – December 20, 2019

Porsche Gifts: Just In Time for Christmas

Presented by Porsche Cars North America - Cargo anywhere with the Tequipment Roof Box Your thirst for adventure can’t be contained. But your equipment and cargo can be with a Tequipment roof box. Increase utility and cargo capacity with our lockable Tequipment roof box, available in 320-liter and 520-liter capacities. Engineered to mount securely on a Porsche roof transport system, Tequipment roof boxes come in black (high-gloss) and silver, and can be opened on both sides. Available at your authorized Porsche dealer. MORE INFORMATION Holiday Gifts – Porsche Driver’s Selection Watches Several Porsche Driver’s Selection watches and chronographs are included in the 2019 PDS Holiday Sale. The watches illustrated here all have Swiss Ronda movements and sapphire coated glass faces. The Chronograph Limited Edition Classic watch face design is inspired by the instrument panels of historic Porsche vehicles and comes with two leather straps. The Essential Classic Watch includes black leather band with deviated red stitching. Its black dial carries the Porsche crest in silver, plus two fabric straps with quick-change mechanism. The Racing Chronograph –Ltd. Edition comes with a white geometric watch dial, white rubber wristband, Swiss Ronda movement with 13 jewels and stopwatch function with split-time measurement and tachymeter. When you order a Porsche watch through the Holiday Sale, you will receive a gift package of a Porsche 1:43 scale model car and license tag frame added to your order, free of charge. Click here for the 2019 PDS Online Shop Holiday Sale. MORE INFORMATION Women’s Holiday Gifts from Porsche Driver’s Selection The 2019 Holiday Sale also includes women’s apparel items to keep the cold away. Click here for our MARTINI RACING Ladies Quilted Jacket in bright red accented with MARTINI logo blue. The sale also includes the 2-in-1 Ladies 911 Collection Jacket in black with durable outer shell and quilted inner lining for extra warmth. For lighter weather conditions, click here for the Women’s MARTINI RACING Sweat Jacket in blue. And for last-minute stocking stuffers, try our ladies polo shirt in white, Women’s Motorsport T-shirt in black/red/white and matching Women’s Motorsport Soft Shell Jacket. All orders for Porsche women’s apparel will ship to you including a free gift package of a Porsche 1:43 scale model car and license tag frame. Click here for the 2019 PDS Online Shop Holiday Sale. MORE INFORMAtioN Presented by Porsche Cars North America Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA), based in Atlanta, Georgia, is the exclusive importer of Porsche vehicles for the United States. Established in 1984, it is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, which is headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany.

By Edward Jones – December 20, 2019

Limited to 100: Mini Bentley Mulsanne W.O. Edition by Mul...

Have you ever tried to fit a full-size Bentley on your desk? Odds are you haven't because that wouldn't end well. If you do want to show your Bentley love on your desk, there is a better way. Bentley has announced the new scale model of the Mulsanne W.O. Edition by Mulliner. This new 1:43 scale model is a fantastic representation of the celebratory Bentley. The Mulsanne W.O. Edition by Mulliner was created to celebrate the English automaker's Centenary year and it's limited to just 100 examples. Matching the full-size car, the model version is limited to just 100 pieces. What's more, it also features Onyx paint and Fireglow upholstery. This is truly a mini-masterpiece. You can shop for it by clicking here. SEE ALL BENTLEYS OR SALE

By Edward Jones – December 19, 2019

Leica M10-P "White" Special Edition Camera

Leica, the German manufacturer of exquisite cameras, has announced a new special edition camera. Introducing the new Leica M10-P "White" camera set. The most obvious "special" attribute of this camera is its white appearance, a break from the standard colorways we find on Leica cameras. White cowhide leather and paint create the icy appearance. Joining the camera is a matching silver chrome Leica Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 ASPH. lens. Only 350 sets will be available worldwide at Leica Stores or Boutiques. For more information, click here.

By Edward Jones – December 19, 2019

Porsche Gifts: For the Porsche Enthusiast in Your Life

Presented by Porsche Cars North America - PDS Taycan Lifestyle Merchandise 2019 is an exciting year in the Porsche world with the introduction of the Taycan. Porsche Driver’s Selection provides the right accompaniment with the Taycan lifestyle Collection, including impressive apparel for men and women plus home/office accessories. Place your order online for Taycan Collection merchandise. more information Holiday Gifts - Online Shop Interesting and attractive merchandise in our Porsche Driver’s Selection Online Shop is available for purchase, especially for the Holiday Season. Your favorites include our Mini Motorsport Bear, apparel, Autobahn and “No Speed Limit” Sign, watches, model cars, luggage, license plate frames and many more unique items. You will also receive an additional gift package consisting of a Porsche 1:43 scale model car and license tag frame added to your order, free of charge. Click here for the 2019 PDS Online Shop Holiday Sale. MORE INFORMATION Taycan Unisex Ultralight Jacket The Taycan Unisex Ultralight Jacket is lightweight, breathable, wind and water-repellent and includes a hood. The jacket has unique properties in keeping with the Taycan EV theme: its decorative, fluorescent print glows in the dark when previously irradiated with light. You can also point a light at the jacket and use the light as a marker to draw your own spontaneous designs on the outer shell. Click here to order at our Porsche Driver’s Selection Online Shop. more information

By Andrew Nabors – December 18, 2019

CoverSeal: From The Ground Up!

Presented by CoverSeal - If you are reading this, you have had issues with protecting your car. One primary method is using a car cover, but they have issues. Don’t deny it, they are not the best solution to protecting your prized possession. Ever fight one on a windy day, or finding it tangled and laying on the side of your car? Why entertain others at your expense? LEARN MORE Wind also has the unfortunate effect of blowing between your paint and the fabric (especially if you have a fitted cover). Once your car is covered, you have created the perfect nest for all kinds of vermin. Critters of all kinds love to chew on wiring, hoses and even the fiberglass of a Corvette firewall (ask me how I know). Once the storm has passed, you better let it air out to prevent mold & mildew forming in places you can't reach. What if all these issues could be solved with something new? " width="680"> CoverSeal is a patented cover that is offered in 3 convenient sizes (Sports, Medium, and Full). It uses a weighted bottom skirt to keep out pests and keep it held to the ground. The seams are carefully sewn with holes too small for rain, but pores large enough to allow water vapor and humidity to boil away in the sunlight. Each cover has ambiguous angles for several reasons. First off, a fitted cover has nooks and crannies for water to puddle on. They also use your mirrors and fenders to stay located, always rubbing your paint. Secondly, us car folks know what is under a fitted cover. CoverSeal is as confusing as a duck blind to thieves. The aluminized finish also negates 90% of the Sun's heat and 100% of UV rays. Not only does this save your shine, it allows tires, weatherstrips, and moldings to last much longer than unfortunate uncovered automobiles. If this cover does not exceed your expectations, your satisfaction includes a money-back guarantee. Best part is that prices start at just $299. LEARN MORE Presented by: CoverSeal CoverSeal® is a new kind of car cover. It’s innovative patented design, which includes a tough weatherproof apron, completely seals the vehicle from the ground up. This keeps insects and rodents out of your car, as well as dirt and dust.

By Edward Jones – December 17, 2019

Cerebrum Tire Sensors award SEMA New Product Award

When it comes to innovation in the automotive industry, look no further than the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas. Here, the best and brightest come together to debut new products and vehicles that set global trends and standards for years to come. Every year SEMA announces the best of the best through the New Product Awards process. “These awards are given to the most innovated and cutting-edge automotive aftermarket products” coming to market. Needless to say, with over 3000 new products debuted on this global stage in 2019, taking home a coveted New Product Award for any of the 16 award categories is no small accomplishment. This year, the highly buzzed about Cerebrum Tire Sensors received the runner-up position! VISIT CEREBRUM-SENSOR.COM Cerebrum Sensors are an innovative solution to smart tire technology, bringing advanced analytics to your fingertips. The sensors mount directly to the inner liner of any tire and communicate never-before-seen information such as tread depth health conveniently through the Cerebrum mobile application. The sensors are also capable of communicating with most vehicle systems, making Cerebrum a replacement for traditional TPMS sensors. Some of the key features of Cerebrum include: Tire pressure including leak detection and critical failure alerts Tire rubber temperature monitoring vs. air temperature as measured by TPMS sensors Tire blowout detection alerts Tread depth health Wheel and tire alignment and load variations (coming in 2020) Fuel and premature tire wear costs Excess Carbon Dioxide emissions summary Advanced Mode performance sessions with GPS and tire summary Recommendations on tire adjustments prior and post performance sessions Fully exportable and shareable Session Details Along with the New Product Award, Cerebrum also took home 5 Global Media Awards, more than over 3000 exhibiting companies. Cerebrum was developed by the California-based inventors of aftermarket tire lettering, Tire Stickers. Utilizing over a decade of rubber bonding experience, patented technology and extensive research and development with tire companies, Cerebrum intelligent tire sensors will be launching early in 2020. There is a pre-order discount of 15% available until the end of the year, so order soon! Cerebrum will also be displayed at the upcoming CES show in Las Vegas and Barrett-Jackson in Scottsdale in January. For more information, check out www.cerebrumsensor.com or email info@cerebrumsensor.com. VISIT CEREBRUM-SENSOR.COM Presented by Cerebrum Cerebrum is the world's first intelligent tire solution utilizing revolutionary, patented sensor technology mounted directly to the tire.

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By Edward Jones – December 17, 2019

New Puma x Pirelli Replicat X Colorways

Puma Motorsport has a massive range of shoes and apparel for fans, and they are constantly adding collections. Today, we're here to bring you the new Puma x Pirelli Replicat X colorways. There are three new colorways for this shoe: White-Rosso Corsa-Black, White-Blueprint-High Risk Rd and Black-Spectra Green-White. Each of the new shoes come with a $120.00 price tag. You can check them out by scrolling down below. SHOP NOW SHOP NOW SHOP NOW Featured Image via Instagram

By Edward Jones – December 13, 2019

New Hublot Watch Has Ever-Evolving Colors

Hublot and Franco-Venezuelan artist and color theorist Carlos Cruz-Diez have collaborated to create a new watch that is a true piece of art for the wrist. Called the Classic Fusion Cruz-Diez, this watch benefits from Cruz-Diez's analysis of what color is. He says color represents "an ephemeral, autonomous and ever evolving reality." The fast of the Classic Fusion Cruz-Diez consists of parallel discs that rotate in sequence-- the hour hand is connected to the first level and the minute hand to the second. These discs have been treated in Pantone colors, allowing the color palette of the watch to evolve with time. As the discs rotate, the colors change in a truly vibrant fashion. The Hublot Classic Fusion Cruz-Diez will be available in three materials, titanium, King Gold and black ceramic. They will also be available in both 45 mm and 38 mm sizes. Production count is as follows for the 45 mm and 38 mm watches: 100 and 25 titanium pieces, 30 and 20 King Gold pieces and 100 and 25 black ceramic pieces respectively. More Watch News:

By Edward Jones – December 11, 2019

T HENRI: Luxury Eyewear Inspired by the World's Most Priz...

Presented by T Henri - In search of an eyewear brand that parallels an elite lifestyle while paying tribute to the world’s most innovative and exclusive machines, Tyler Henri was driven to create a purist, exotic lifestyle brand… a brand which flows harmoniously with the vanity fair of indulging in hypercars, superyachts, and jumbo jets. Out of that innovation, T HENRI was born, a new ultra-chic brand offering the world’s most luxurious and meticulously-crafted eyepieces. Having worn and studied eyepieces designed by the world’s most talented independent brands, Tyler went to the epicenter of micro-production eyewear— Sabae, Japan. With his vision and artistic direction, a scrutinizing three-year process began. It’s sole mission: to assemble the most exclusive luxury eyewear collection available in the world, the Monaco Series. Thus born, T HENRI is an ultra-luxury, micro-production eyewear brand inspired by the world’s most prized possessions. visit thenri.com to see their collection Elegance and performance mold together like the most exclusive and exotic automobile designs to form our expertly hand-crafted eyepieces. Ennobling details from the aerodynamics, ventilation, and exhaust systems of the world’s rarest performance vehicles, i.e. various supercars from the past century, are largely the inspiration behind the formulation and design features of this debut collection. Whether you’re looking to live life in the fast lane with our lightweight, aerodynamic Ti sun spectacles or step out past sundown in our Rx solution, the Monaco Series provides an elite and luxurious eyewear experience for people of all lifestyles. Each and every pair of T HENRI eyepieces come complete with an elegant, hand-crafted azure case, upholstered like the interior of a supercar and outfitted with our signature buckle. Sculpted for beauty, timelessness, extensive detail…and, of course, performance…the Monaco Series collection is the ultimate driver’s spectacle. Feel the soul behind designing beauty in the fast lane… view T henri's collection now Presented by T HENRI The Collection is manufactured with the highest quality materials currently used in luxury eyewear production anywhere on the globe today. Our Ti frames are constructed out of high-grade 5A Titanium and electroplated in 18K Gold. Each frame is electroplated with 1 micron of 18K Gold, producing our refined, signature, high-polished glow.

By Edward Jones – December 11, 2019

Stunning New McIntosh Amplifier Unveiled

McIntosh has just announced the new MC901 Dual Mono Amplifier, a stunning piece of equipment that looks like a piece of tech from the future. As the name suggests, this is a dual-mono amplifier, meaning it has two amplifiers combined into one piece of equipment-- a 300-watt vacuum amplifier attached to a 600-watt solid state amplifier. The 300-watt amp takes care of a speaker's mid and upper drivers, while the 600-watt amp is in charge of providing power for the woofers. What's more, these amps will deliver their full power no matter the speaker's Ohm impedance. As for its looks, this amp is truly a beautiful piece of work but that's expected from McIntosh. Most people will either notice the amp's vacuum tubes or the "McIntosh Blue" watt meter right away. Interested? It comes with a $17,500 price tag. For more information, be sure to click the button below. shop now

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